2016 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Finalists Announced

The Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts announced the final ballot nominees for the 2016 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, scheduled to take place on May 28th at the Kalakaua Ballroom of the Hawaiʻi Convention Center.

The 39th Annual event includes multiple nominations of Maui’s Lily Meola who is named as a finalist in categories that include: Female Vocalist of the Year, Most Promising Artist of the Year; and Contemporary Album of the Year for her newly released album “They Say…”

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The 21-year-old songstress is making big headlines nationally with Rolling Stone naming her as one of the, “10 New Country Artists You Need to Know.” GoPro also featured her in a special (that was republished on our own Maui Now website) in which they joined her and Lukas Nelson (Willie Nelson’s son) in Luck, Texas for a song session and interview.

Meola was born and raised on the island of Maui. She has performed at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, as an opener for the Maui Film Festival, and has toured with Country legend Willie Nelson.

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Other Maui residents or those with Maui ties on the nomination list include: Amy Hānaialiʻi; Jeff Peterson; George Kahumoku Jr.; Da Ukulele Boyz; Kaʻimi Hananoʻeau in the EP category; and the Institute of Hawaiian Music for their album Aloha ʻIa Nō ʻO Maui, produced by Keola Donaghy at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College.

The complete list of nominees that will appear on the final ballot are posted below:

GENERAL CATEGORIES

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Female Vocalist of the Year – Best performance by a female artist.

NATALIE AI KAMAUU, La La La La (Keko)

AMY HĀNAIALIʻI, Chardonnay (Ua)

MAILANI, Pacific Gem (Hā)

LILY MEOLA, They Say… (no label)

KIMIE MINER, Kimie Miner (Kimie Miner)

Group of the Year – Best performance by a vocal duo or group.

BEN & MAILA, All About Love (Dream)

CRIMSON APPLE, Hello (Crimson Apple)

KAHULANUI, From Hawaiʻi to New York (Kahulanui)

MAUNALUA, He Inoa (Lokahi)

ROUGH RIDERS, THE, We Ride (Rough Rider)

Male Vocalist of the Year – Best performance by a male artist.

NATHAN AWEAU, ʻĀina Hānau (Bass Plus Music Arts)

JIMMY BORGES, Jimmy Borges (Mountain Apple)

MICHAEL KEALE, No Ka Beauty (PRM)

MIKE LOVE, Love Will Find A Way (Love Not War)

SEAN NAʻAUAO, Lehua Beauty (Mountain Apple)

Most Promising Artist of the Year – Most promising first-recorded effort as a featured artist or group.

BLAYNE ASING, Young, Old Soul (no label)

CRIMSON APPLE, Hello (Crimson Apple)

KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS CHILDREN’S CHORUS, He Koa Mau A Mau (KSBE)

LILY MEOLA, They Say… (no label)

TIM ROSE, Tim Rose (no label)

Single of the Year – Best-recorded performance of a song released as a single in either physical (CD) or digital format.

“365,” Kapena featuring Kalenaku (KDE)

“IN THE END (HISESSIONS),” Nathan Aweau (HiSessions)

“NEW MELODY,” Kapena featuring Pena Bu & Kay-Oh! (KDE)

“OHOHIA KO KA HONUA,” Kūpaoa (Hulu Kupuna)

“SHOWER TREE,” Natalie Ai Kamauu (Keko)

EP (“Extened Play”) of the Year – Best extended play release (between 3 and 8 songs) of newly released material.

International Album Special Recognition Award – Award restricted to non-US artists (those born in and who reside in the country in which the submission originates)

KUPULAU, Keiko (Ao Aqua)

I AROUND, Rio (no label)

NEW WORLD, Daichi Watanabe (Clever Sea)

UKULELE MERRY CHRISTMAS, Ryo Natoyama (Intense Music)

UKULELE SPLASH, Ryo Natoyama (Intense Music)

Maihama Amphitheater entrance, Japan. The final ballot announcement was made on Sunday April 10 in Japan at the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards/2016 Nomination & Music Festival at the Maihama Amphitheater. Photo credit: Nā Hōkū Hanohano/Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts.

The final ballot announcement was made on Sunday April 10 in Japan at the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards/2016 Nomination & Music Festival at the Maihama Amphitheater. Photo credit: Nā Hōkū Hanohano/Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts.

Natalie Ai Kamauʻu (female vocalist of the year finalist) performing at the ballot announcement event. The final ballot announcement was made on Sunday April 10 in Japan at the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards/2016 Nomination & Music Festival at the Maihama Amphitheater. Photo credit: Nā Hōkū Hanohano/Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts.

Sha-Lei at the final ballot announcements, made on Sunday April 10 in Japan at the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards/2016 Nomination & Music Festival at the Maihama Amphitheater. Photo credit: Nā Hōkū Hanohano/Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts.

The final ballot announcement was made on Sunday April 10 in Japan at the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards/2016 Nomination & Music Festival at the Maihama Amphitheater. Photo credit: Nā Hōkū Hanohano/Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts.

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